7
PROCTOR | July 2017
News
BRISBANE SOUTHPORT MACKAY TOWNSVILLE
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LCA condemns
political attacks
on judiciary
The Law Council of Australia (LCA) has
called for an end to political attacks on
the judiciary, especially in cases where
they might be perceived as interfering
with matters currently before the courts.
LCA president Fiona McLeod SC said recent
comments by senior federal MPs referring
to “ideological experiments” supposedly
being carried out by the judicial system
were gravely concerning.
“It is inappropriate to suggest that judges
decide their cases on anything other than
the law and the facts presented to them by
the parties,” Ms McLeod said. “Attacking
the independence of the judiciary does not
make Australia safer; in fact it erodes public
confidence in the courts and undermines
the rule of law.
“It is Australia’s robust adherence to
the rule of law that has underpinned this
nation’s status as one of the most peaceful,
harmonious, and secure places in the world.”
Ms McLeod said the Law Council had
particular concerns about reported
comments made by three Government
MPs about a terror-related case currently
before the courts in Victoria.
Olivia Milne, Jesse Sutherland and Alan Tai as ‘Me-Vatars’ in the virtual replica of the Toowoomba courtroom.
Learning in court, virtually
Law students at the University
of Southern Queensland are now
learning in Toowoomba’s No.1
Courtroom, virtually.
Through virtual reality technology, the
students are able to participate in the
School of Law and Justice’s moot court
proceedings from any computer.
Appearing as ‘Me-Vatars’, they walk
through the courtroom, role play, work in
groups, and talk to their peers and engage
with their lecturer while the full course is
taught inside the virtual courtroom.
The head of USQ’s School of Law
and Justice, Professor Reid Mortensen,
said virtual reality technology had a
number of uses throughout the bachelor
and post-graduate courses.
“Moot court is a vital part of every law
student’s education,” he said. “Advocacy
skills that a moot teaches are invaluable
and an important part of USQ’s law
courses. Through the use of virtual reality
technology, external students can now
participate and interact in real time.
“We will also be looking to use this
technology in the USQ Secondary Schools
Moot Competition where more schools
from farther away can participate.”